Takebacker Wrote:When? A year ago?

My $700 asus U31S (1.5ish yr old by model, 1 yr old by relativity) is probably more than capable of playing SC2 or LoL. Providing a realistic estimate requires we know what games we're even talking about anyway. PC gaming has never been a cheap hobby, but it's certainly becoming easier and easier to manage high level games without really high end hardware.

SunYanZi Wrote:I'm talking top end, high quality gaming rig. Not a laptop.
And I'm well aware it is getting cheaper to make a computer that will play most games...but that's more like a casual player in my opinion. But if you're very competitive, you'll want to get the best quality hardware that will support you the best way as possible.

I was looking at this earlier but after reading reviews about iBUYPOWER...


I want to get a PC that can do anything I can throw at it, whether it's video rendering (my current PC doesn't make me want to make videos because of it's pomegranatety quality), gaming (mostly gaming), acting as a mini home server, etc. Would this be a good deal?

If those won't work, I'll try to build my first PC.
What is your current budget?:
$1000

What part are you looking for? Why do you need it?:
A whole new PC.

What parts are in your current computer? Be as specific as possible. Links to Newegg/Tigerdirect are best. If you have a pre-built, include the make and model.
My current computer is a Compaq Presario CQ4010F

How do you intend to use this new part or new computer? What's the heaviest load it's likely to encounter?
Gaming, video rendering.

If you live anywhere other than the United States, please indicate your country.
N/A

SunYanZi Wrote:I'm talking top end, high quality gaming rig. Not a laptop.
And I'm well aware it is getting cheaper to make a computer that will play most games...but that's more like a casual player in my opinion. But if you're very competitive, you'll want to get the best quality hardware that will support you the best way as possible.

Dusk Wrote:You don't need high quality hardware to play any competitive games. The audience would be far too small if you did. $700 will build a pretty decent desktop.

SunYanZi Wrote:You CAN play with a 700 dollar rig, but you'll want to invest the most as possible to get the best results in your gaming experience. Skill is important overall in being good in a game, but your hardware is crucial/backbone of what you do.
I don't know any great gamers that play on a 700 dollar rig. Js.

Dusk Wrote:played on mediocre internet Cafe PCs, using the cheapest mice/keyboards for years.

SunYanZi Wrote:....You do realize Broadwar was released in 1998 right? (doh) And you do realize you're mentioning games that basically came out in the early millennium; keep in mind back then a top quality machine had a low end Nvidia card and maybe 8GBs of ram tops. It didn't take much to play those games seriously if you wanted.

But think about it...
A laser mouse will give you the ability to move faster and be more accurate compared to a ball mouse? Pretty sure I'm right.
A 120hz monitor will give you the ability to see fast moving objects more clear? Pretty sure I nailed that one too.

Hmm.....pretty sure hardware does give you the ability to play better...just might...just maybe

SunYanZi Wrote:....You do realize Broadwar was released in 1998 right? (doh) And you do realize you're mentioning games that basically came out in the early millennium; keep in mind back then a top quality machine had a low end Nvidia card and maybe 8GBs of ram tops. It didn't take much to play those games seriously if you wanted.

But think about it...
A laser mouse will give you the ability to move faster and be more accurate compared to a ball mouse? Pretty sure I'm right.
A 120hz monitor will give you the ability to see fast moving objects more clear? Pretty sure I nailed that one too.

Hmm.....pretty sure hardware does give you the ability to play better...just might...just maybe

Zelkova Wrote:I just built my friend a pretty damn good computer that can play games on high, and most on ultra for sub 700. He wanted a bluray player, so it went over ... BUT STILL!

Piggy 2.0 Wrote:What is your current budget?:
$1000-$1500

What part are you looking for? Why do you need it?
Been wanting a significantly stronger computer ever since I discovered emulation/started using Steam.

What parts are in your current computer? Be as specific as possible.
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/BOix
As I've grown used to dual-screen shenanigans, I'm gonna want to buy a monitor with all this to use with the TV I've been using as a 2nd monitor with my laptop. What do I wanna look for in a monitor/how do I make sure my build can have multiple monitors plugged into it?
For the operating system, its kinda weird. I have access to a free version of Windows 7 professional, but by the time I get the money to buy all the parts, I may have already graduated and lost access to it. Thinking about DLing the set up, sticking it on a flash-drive and hiding the product-key away until I get everything set up. Is this viable?

Let it be known that this is the very first time I'm attempting to build a computer. Any recommendations, advice or harsh criticism is looked upon fondly.

How do you intend to use this new part or new computer? What's the heaviest load it's likely to encounter?
I'm planning to use it for everything I attempt to do on my low powered laptop right now. The laptop can handle video/music/light gaming, but anything other than that puts a strain on the poor thing, and Overclocking seems like a no-go.

Most likely emulating games via PCSx2/Dolphin with greater graphics than the actual systems themselves is the primo amount of strain.

If you live anywhere other than the United States, please indicate your country.

Right smack dab in the middle of the USA.

More info next time I gain access to a computer.